Molded plastic drawer and supporting rail



3, 1963 L. H. GUSTAFSON ETAL ,1

MOLDED PLASTIC DRAWER AND SUPPORTING RAIL I Filed March 22, 1957 aSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS EV IE Hllmshfscm 1963 H. GUSTAFSON ETAL3,112,969

MOLDED PLASTIC DRAWER AND SUPPORTING RAIL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March22, 1957 Ill [/1 P [/1 I I INVENTORS LEWIS H-E|Ll 5.111% cm LEWIS .llrulbera nndi Cfiwt 7/244 ATTORNEY United States Patent The presentinvention relates to the construction and manufacture of furniture andmore particularly to improvements in case goods.

Case goods, which broadly cover wooden structures having slidingdrawers, have always been constructed of a relatively large number ofparts which are individually finished and then assembled to fashion abureau, desk, cabinet or the like. With so many individual finishing andassembling operations it is almost inevitable that inaccuracies willresult. These inaccuracies in many instances are of little consequenceas where they are only discernible to an expert eye. On the other handinaccuracies in parting rails, drawer guides and drawers are not onlyobvious but, more often than not, prevent proper functioning and use ofthe drawers.

Furniture manufacturers must, therefore, correct or compensate for suchinaccuracies by employing a highly paid specialist to fit eachindividual drawer. in spite of the skill of such specialists, evenproperly fitted drawers must be considered unique to themselves andthere is no assurance that the same size drawers of a given piece offurniture will be freely interchangeable.

Thus the principal object of this invention is to minimize or eliminatethe. need for individually fitting each drawer for proper slidingmovement in a case goods construction, thus reducing costs and providingthe advantage of all drawers of a given size being freelyinterchangeable.

Another object of the invention is to simplify and improve the manner inwhich parting rails, drawer guides and drawers are formed in order toovercome the expense involved in multi-piece constructions as well as togive the finished case greater strength and also freedom from dustresulting from use of the drawers.

A further object of the invention is to attain all of the aboveadvantages without sacrifice of the beauty inherent in the use ofattractive and finely finished woods for the exterior portions of casegoods constructions.

The various features of novelty will be found in a unitary plasticparting rail which may include integral drawer guiding means and also ina novel plastic drawer,

which includes means cooperative with the said drawer guiding means tomaintain alignment of the drawer.

The above and other related objects and features of the invention willbe more readily apparent from a reading of the following detaileddescription of the disclosure found in the accompanying drawings and theparticular novelty thereof pointed out in the appended claims.

in the drawings:

PEG. 1 is an exploded perspective view exemplifying the case goodsconstruction of the present invention;

PEG. 2 is a plan view of the parting rail seen in FIG. 1;

H6. 3 is a section taken on the line ll-llll in MG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line lV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken on line V-V in P16. 1 on anenlarged scale showing, in corresponding section, the drawer of FIG. .1sliding on the parting rail;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the drawer seen in FIG. 1;

PEG. 7 is an end elevation of the same drawer with a wooden front piecesecured thereto;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view showing an alternate manner of securingsuch a wood front piece;

Federated Dec. 3, i963 FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of analternate form of drawer construction; and

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of another alternate drawer frontconstruction.

The exploded showing in FIG. 1 best illustrates the overall aspects ofthe novel case goods construction of this invention. A wooden case Ell,as might be used for a bureau or the like, includes opposed side walls22 between which a unitary plastic parting rail 24 extends and issecured thereto by screws 2-6. The parting rail preferably includes anintegral drawer guide 28 which maintains alignment of a plastic drawer3% as it is slid on the parting rail 24. A wooden front piece 31 havingpulls 33 may be secured to the drawer 30 so that when a complete set ofdrawers is installed in the case 26 all exterior surfaces thereof willshow the attractiveness of finely finished wood.

The parting rail Ed is shown in greater detail in FEGS. 2, 3 and 4wherein it will be seen that opposed mounting flanges 32 are providedwith holes 34 for receiving the screws 26. The flanges 32 areinterconnected at their front and rear ends by generally U-shaped rails36, 38 which are intermediate the top and bottom edges of the flanges.This arrangement not only provides a solid unitary parting railconstruction but also increases the effectiveness of the holding powerof the attaching screws. inwardly of the flanges 32 are lands orsurfaces dil which support the drawer in the manner described below.Various ribs and flanges may be provided in the manner illustrated togive the parting rail greater strength and rigidity.

Preferably the parting rail is compression molded of a thermosettingplastic material such as a polyester resin and rcenforced by anadmixture of glass fibers such as chopped spun roving. A parting rail soformed provides a high strength member which will lend rigidity to casegood constructions in a manner hitherto unknown. Further advantages arefound in the extreme accuracy which can be obtained from a compressionmold. This opens the door to new procedures in making case goods, since,for example, the side walls 22 may be accurately spaced apart by theflanges 32. Of greater importance, however, is the accuracy of thesurfaces 419 and drawer guides 218 which will always be located inpredetermined relation to each other independently of the wood portionsof any wooden case goods in which the parting rail is incorporated.

The plastic drawer 3t) (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8) includes a bottom 452, endwalls 44, a back wall 46 and a front wall .8. The walls join with eachother and with the bottom through curved sections which greatlyfacilitate the ease with which the drawer can be cleaned. Further, thisintegral drawer construction eliminates all cracks and crevices intowhich articles might slip or fall through. At opposite ends of thedrawer bottom 42 are integral runners 5:). Preferably theseare doublerunners in order that a greater surface area may be provided withoutincreasing the size of the plastic section. Intermediate the side walls44 a guideway 52 is formed on the bottom 22. in order that the drawermay be stiiTened the end walls and back Wall 46 are provided with anoutwardly and downwardly extending flange 54 and also the various ribsillustrated add further rigidity. The front wa l 45 is provided with anoutwardly extending flange 56 which in addition to giving strengthserves as locating means for the wooden front piece 31 (FIGS. '1 and 8)which is notched in an appropriate fashion at 6% The wooden front pieceis then glued or otherwise secured to the front wall An adhesive bond isto be preferred for attaching the front piece 31 since it minimizes anypossible stress concentrations in the plastic material of the drawer.

It will be noted that the top of the front piece 58 and the top of thelocating flange lie in the same plane. While this is the most economicaland easiest method of locating the front piece, FIG. 9 illustratesanothe method which is also effective and which may provide greaterversatility for design purposes. It will be seen in FIG. 9 that a notchas spaced from the top of front piece 31 receives the locating flange'6.

The parting rail or rails 24 when mounted in a case are set back fromthe front edges of the side walls 22 (FIG. 1) so that the front openingof the case is entirely filled by drawer front pieces. Thus, all plasticportions may be concealed where it is desired that a given piece offurniture best show off the beauty and texture of finely finished wood.

On the other hand plastics also have asthetic properties which arebecoming more appreciated. Thus it may be desired that the front wall ofthe plastic drawer be exposed. Such a construction is seen in FIG. 10wherein the front wall 48 has been increased in thickness to withstandthe concentrated stresses of drawer pulls which will be attachedthereto. The front 43 is flush and also extends below the drawer bottom-3-2" in order to conceal the runners of guideway (not shown in 10).

The drawer 36 may be formed of any plastic material but a thermoplasticresin such as a high impact polystyrene has been found preferable. Whenformed of polystyrene an especially good action results when the drawer38 is slid on the parting rail 24 (FIG. 5). The runners Stl sliding onthe surfaces 46 create so little dust that partitions, found in woodencase goods, between the drawers in a stack are no longer needed.Further, the free and easy action of the guide 23 and way is such thatmuch closer fits may be used. This combination having accuratedimensional relations, economically enables mass producing of case goodshaving drawers which function with an ease and in a manner whichpreviously resulted by chance or from highly skilled custom workmanship.

Having thus described our invention what we declare as novel and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A two piece combination for case goods, comprising a unitaryintegrally molded plastic parting rail and a molded plastic drawerwherein a vertical flange is provided at each end of the parting rail,the outer faces of said flanges lying in parallel vertical planes, saidflanges being apertured to receive fasteners for securing the end panelsof the case goods thereto, front and rear rails interconnecting saidflanges, said parting rail having a horizontal drawer supporting surfacespaced inwardly from each of said flanges and extending between saidfront and rear rails, a central U-shaped guide parallel to said flangesand extending between said front and rear rails, said drawer beingcooperatively received by said parting rail and comprising as integrallymolded portions, a flat bottom wall, a runner projecting from saidbottom wall adjacent each end thereof, said runners being parallel andextending from the front to the rear of the bottom wall and having flatbottom faces slidingly engaging the supporting surfaces of the partingrail, a centrally disposed guideway projecting from said bottom wall adistance less than that of the runners, said galideway comprising a pairof ribs parallel to said runners and spaced apart a distance slightlygreater than the width of said parting rail guide and slidingly receivedthereby, end, rear and front walls connected to said bottom wall and toeach other by curved sections, the rear and end walls being outwardlyflared from the bottom wall and provided at their upper edges ith anoutwardly extending peripheral flange, the width of the drawer asdefined by the flange portions on the end walls being less than thedistance between the outer faces of said flanges, the outer surface ofthe front wall of said drawer lying in a plane substantially normal tothe bottom wall.

2. A plastic drawer having as integrally molded portions, a flat bottomwall, a runner projecting from said bottom wall adjacent each endthereof, said runners being parallel and extending from the front to therear of the bottom wall and having flat bottom faces, a centrallydisposed guideway projecting from said bottom wall a distance less thanthat of the runners, said guideway comprising a pair of ribs parallel tosaid runners, end, rear and front walls connected to said bottom walland to each other by curved sections, the rear and end walls beingoutwardly flared from the bottom wall and provided at their upper edgeswith an outwar ly extending eripheral flange, the outer surface of thefront wall of said drawer lying in a plane substantially normal to thebottom wall.

3. A unitary integrally molded plastic parting rail having flanges ateach end thereof, the outer faces of said flanges lying in parallelvertical planes, said flanges being apertured to receive fasteners forsecuring the end panels of case goods thereto, front and rear railsinterconnecting said flanges, said parting rail having a horizontaldrawer supporting surface spaced inwardly from each of said flanges andextending between said front and rear rails, and a central U-shapedguide parallel to said flanges and extending between said front and rearrails.

4. A two piece combination for case goods, comprising a unitaryintegrally molded plastic parting rail and a molded plastic drawer,wherein a vertical flange is provided at each end of said parting rail,the outer faces of said flanges lying in parallel vertical planes, saidflanges being apcrtured to receive fasteners for securing the end panelsof the case goods thereto, front and rear rails of inverted U-shapeinterconnecting said flanges, an inverted U-shaped portion spacedinwardly from each of said flanges and providing a drawer supportingsurface extending between the front and rear rails and on the same leveltherewith, a central U-shaped guide parallel to said flanges andextending between the front and rear rails with the leg portions of theguide projecting above said front and rear rails, said drawer beingcooperatively received by said parting rail and comprising as integrallymolded portions a flat bottom wall, a runner extending from the front tothe rear of the bottom wall adjacent each end thereof, said runnersbeing parallel and each comprising a pair of parallel closely spacedribs having flat bottom faces ongaging the supporting surfaces of theparting rail, 0. centrally disposed guideway projecting from said bottomwall a distance less than that of said runners, said guideway comprisinga pair of ribs parallel to said runners and spaced apart a distanceslightly greater than the width of said parting rail guide and slidinglyreceived thereby, a second rib parallel to each guideway rib and closelyspaced therefrom outwardly thereof, end, rear and front walls connectedto said bottom wall and to each other by curved sections, the rear andend walls being outwardly flared from the bottom wall and curvedoutwardly and then downwardly to form a peripheral flange at the top ofthese walls, the width of the drawer as defined by the flange portionson the end walls being less than the distance between the outer faces ofsaid bracket flanges, the outer surface of the front wall of said drawerlying in a plane substantially normal to the bottom wall.

5. A plastic drawer comprising as integrally molded portions, a flatbottom wall, a runner extending from the front to the rear of the bottomwall adjacent each end thereof, said runners being parallel and eachcomprising a pair of parallel closely spaced ribs having flat bottomfaces, a centrally disposed guideway projecting from said bottom wall adistance less than that of said runners, said guideway comprising a pairof spaced ribs parallel to said runners, a second rib parallel to eachguideway rib and closely spaced therefrom outwardly thereof, end, rearand front walls connected to said bottom wall and to each other bycurved sections, the rear and end walls being outwardly flared from thebottom walls and curved outwardly and then downwardly to form aperipheral flange at the top of these walls, the outer surface of thefront wall of said 'drawer lying in a plane substantially normal to thebottom wall.

6. A unitary integrally molded plastic parting rail comprising avertical flange at each end of said parting rail, the outer faces ofsaid flanges lying in parallel vertical planes, said flanges beingapertured to receive fasteners for securing the end panels of case goodsthereto, front and rear rails of inverted U-shaped intenconnecting saidflanges, an inverted U-shaped portion spaced inwardly from each of saidflanges and providing a drawer supporting surface extending between thefront and rear walls and on the same level therewith, a central U-shapedguide parallel to said flanges and extending between the front and rearwalls with the leg portions of the guide projectiug above said 'frontand rear rails.

References Jited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A TWO PIECE COMBINATION FOR CASE GOODS, COMPRISING A UNITARYINTEGRALLY MOLDED PLASTIC PARTING RAIL AND A MOLDED PLASTIC DRAWERWHEREIN A VERTICAL FLANGE IS PROVIDED AT EACH END OF THE PARTING RAIL,THE OUTER FACES OF SAID FLANGES LYING IN PARALLEL VERTICAL PLANES, SAIDFLANGES BEING APERTURED TO RECEIVE FASTENERS FOR SECURING THE END PANELSOF THE CASE GOODS THERETO, FRONT AND REAR RAILS INTERCONNECTING SAIDFLANGES, SAID PARTING RAIL HAVING A HORIZONTAL DRAWER SUPPORTING SURFACESPACED INWARDLY FROM EACH OF SAID FLANGES AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAIDFRONT AND REAR RAILS, A CENTRAL U-SHAPED GUIDE PARALLEL TO SAID FLANGESAND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FRONT AND REAR RAILS, SAID DRAWER BEINGCOOPERATIVELY RECEIVED BY SAID PARTING RAIL AND COMPRISING AS INTEGRALLYMOLDED PORTIONS, A FLAT BOTTOM WALL, A RUNNER PROJECTING FROM SAIDBOTTOM WALL ADJACENT EACH END THEREOF, SAID RUNNERS BEING PARALLEL ANDEXTENDING FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR OF THE BOTTOM WALL AND HAVING FLATBOTTOM FACES SLIDINGLY ENGAGING THE SUPPORTING SURFACES OF THE PARTINGRAIL, A CENTRALLY DISPOSED GUIDEWAY PROJECTING FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL ADISTANCE LESS THAN THAT OF THE RUNNERS, SAID GUIDEWAY COMPRISING A PAIROF RIBS PARALLEL TO SAID RUNNERS AND SPACED APART A DISTANCE SLIGHTLYGREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID PARTING RAIL GUIDE AND SLIDINGLY RECEIVEDTHEREBY, END, REAR AND FRONT WALLS CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM WALL AND TOEACH OTHER BY CURVED SECTIONS, THE REAR AND END WALLS BEING OUTWARDLYFLARED FROM THE BOTTOM WALL AND PROVIDED AT THEIR UPPER EDGES WITH ANOUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL FLANGE, THE WIDTH OF THE DRAWER ASDEFINED BY THE FLANGE PORTIONS ON THE END WALLS BEING LESS THAN THEDISTANCE BETWEEN THE OUTER FACES OF SAID FLANGES, THE OUTER SURFACE OFTHE FRONT WALL OF SAID DRAWER LYING IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TOTHE BOTTOM WALL.